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WWI ammo pouch?

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:11 am
by MarksmanTim
I think this was the best forum to post this in. While digging in the attic at my parents house for kitchen items for my new house I stumbled on something I had been looking for a year now. When I was a kid we had a bunch of old military gear we used to play with. I had found most of it, and posted about it, except for this one. It looked like maybe M1 carbine mags would fit, but they don't, plus this is khaki colored. I then noticed what looks like a 1918 date stamped on it. So, based on that, what do you think this is for? I was thinking maybe .30-06 on stripper clips? (M1903?) I fit a stripper clip of 7.62x54r in the pouch and it fit and the latch closes over them...
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Re: WWI ammo pouch?

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:39 am
by desdem12
Nice

Re: WWI ammo pouch?

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:17 am
by RC932
Looks like one half of an M1917 or M1918 Cartridge Belt, judging by the dates and the looks. It was meant for 2 5 round stripper clips of .30-06 per pouch and the design was kept mostly the same for later belts that held en blocs for the Garand. Do you have the belt portion and the other half?

This is just my best guess, I'm no expert on WWI field gear but I know some bits of it

Re: WWI ammo pouch?

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:10 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
Nice, you have half of a nine pocket cartridge belt, many of these were updated for WW2 reissue by having an extra pocket sewn on to this part of the belt to make it the regular 10 pocket. The missing pocket space was used for a half moon clip pouch for the 1917 revolver, or a two pocket mag pouch for the 1911. This would have been the M1914 cartridge belt, try hard and find the missing belt and other side , these are not cheap, and that looks to be in very good condition.

Re: WWI ammo pouch?

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:11 am
by MarksmanTim
Thanks for the info! Unfortunately I don't think we ever had the whole thing, just this piece. I do remember a belt, but I think it was green.